Here in the brand new Town Toyota Centre in Wenatchee, Californian Charlie “The Edge” Venegas won tonight’s Meeting and was also crowned the 2009 XiiR / AMA Champion.

This was Charlie’s 3rd Championship and afterwards admitted “This was a tough series, at the beginning we had the British League stars Paul Cooper and Ben Hopwood and then when they had to return home for League action there, the old-timer, Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell joined and by goodness did he make it tough along with the ongoing challenge of the British Bulldog and Series co-Promoter, Anthony Barlow. I am extremely pleased with this win as I am not getting any younger even though there are still a few years to go before I am as old as McConnell”.

McConnell meanwhile has made it clear that in 2010 he wants to be in from the start and promises to challenge Venegas and Barlow all the way and show that even at 50 years old there is life in the old dog.

From the very first heat Venegas made his intentions clear as he brilliantly outgated Shawn McConnell and in doing so relegated his nearest challenger, Anthony Barlow to last place.

The second qualifying heat resulted in a good win for Kelly Kerrigan who easily beat Meldrum, Warburton and Martinez.

In the second round of qualifying heats it was McConnell who saw off his 3 Californian challengers (Venegas, Kerrigan and Martinez) in his second ride although a second place for Venegas was enough to put him through to the Main Final and to put the pressure on Barlow.

The Bulldog responded in the next heat by winning from James Mann, David Meldrum and Ben Warburton, even though the win was only good enough to give him pole position in the Last Chance from which he qualified to the Main behind 3 Californians on the Front Row and it was again Venegas who rode superbly well for all 6 laps to hold off the close attention of McConnell.

Earlier in a Division 2 Challenge from which the winner was to qualify for the final place in the Last Chance, 17-year old Russell Green from California and a protégée of Venegas was involved in an horrific crash with Berwick’s Johnny Kerr as they both hit the boards locked together after a coming together on the apex of turns 3 and 4.
Thankfully both escaped serious injury and although Russell withdrew from the meeting, Kerr was able to carry on racing the Quad class.

Nathan “The Hippy” Siegel arrived here in Wenatchee in an unbeatable position but was determined to see off the expected challenge from the Local guys who had already ridden in the second meeting of the Series in Everett.

However it all went wrong as early as Heat 1 when Ian Wilson took the chequered flag with Lance Hallworth in 2nd with Siegel struggling to hold off Barlow for a solitary point.

Heat 2 however saw regular Rider, Florida’s Chris Hall take a win and again in Heat 3 it was another regular James Mann who took the win although he lost a point in the process as the demolition Man lived up to his name to touching the carpet when well in the lead, but gained no advantage.

Heat 4 offered a sign of what was to come as Washington’s Frank Felder, riding in the 3rd meeting of the Series took a win and a handy 3 points.

In the 2nd round of qualifiers it was better for Siegel as he won his heat and by collecting 3 points guaranteed his place in the Last Chance, while in the 2nd heat Barlow did the same.

Heat 7 saw Felder get a 2nd qualifying Heat win to give him pole position in the main Final and with Lance Hallworth winning Heat 8, he also took a place on the front row in the Main alongside Felder and the 3rd local Ian Wilson.

The Last Chance produced a win for Hall, closely followed by Siegel with Barlow coming through from the back row for the last grid position in the Main.

The first running of the Main Final had to be stopped as there was a clash on the first bend and then at the second attempt it had to be stopped again when Wilson and hall tangled.

This meant a 3rd re-run to be run over just 4 laps and while Felder made no mistakes, it was Siegel who made the biggest challenge as he took 2nd place in the Main with another local Rider, Lance Hallsworth joining him and Felder on the Podium after a frantic night of racing.

Heat 1: Venegas 3, McConnell 2, Mann 1, Barlow 0
Heat 2: Kerrigan 3, Meldrum 2, Warburton 1, Martinez 0
Heat 3: Venegas 2, McConnell, Kerrigan 1, Martinez 0
Heat 4: Barlow 3, Mann 2, Meldrum 1, Warburton ret

Points for the night:  Venegas 15, McConnell 12, Kerrigan 9, Barlow 6, Mann 5, Meldrum 4, Warburton 1, Martinez 0.